Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sbpolyhr]

Hi,

I'm an expat from the US who has been in Korea for about 12 years. Like most, I came over to teach; however, I have gradually worked up to owning my own hagwon - a franchise of one of the larger English academies in Korea, the name of which I will leave out for now.

Looking to expand, I have decided to get into recruiting. I've always done my own recruiting and was the head of recruiting for the large aforementioned franchise for a few years.

My plan is to verify the integrity of each hagwon for whom I hire as well as the integrity of each applicant - rather than just massing up a collection of resumes and selling to the highest bidder. Trust will still be an issue, but hopefully over time a good reputation will come out of it.

So, I'd like to know what everyone thinks about what it takes to build trust in a recruiter as well as any other recommendations those of you who are experienced in being recruited might have.

Thanks!

[ttompatz]

[sbpolyhr]

Hello again,

As I have been in Korea for some time, I have often seen or worked with the bitter-type teacher who either could not adjust to living in Korea or had some bad experience and could not get themselves out of it or never got over it. Thank you for representing that demographic. I'd really like to hear mature responses to a legitimate request for information on how I can do better than those that came before me.

And I'll contribute another aphorism:
If you can't say something nicely, don't say anything at all.

Thank you!

[FriendlyDaegu]

[sbpolyhr]

Thanks for your response.

In fact, I did think of consulting; however, in my experience most hagwon directors know or think they know what they are doing. Most of the difficulty in hagwons these days has more to do with things going on within the government, and my language skills make me fairly inept there, though I have help in dealing with them at my own academy.

My success with the hagwon means that I don't have to be desperate about earning cash, as some recruiters might. So, I can stick to my guns so to speak in terms of being honest with everyone involved. I also think that many agencies have the business a bit backwards...hagwons will always need teachers. That is a constant. Getting a good reputation among teachers should be paramount as they are both the "product" and a customer. Again, honestly speaking. You don't want to burn them.

[ttompatz]

[meangradin]

so you own a hagwon and have been here for 12 years, but joined daves this week?

Tom are you the owner of that school or the manager? either way, well done!

[ttompatz]

[meangradin]

well done sir! you may be one of the most successful foreigners in Korea.

[sbpolyhr]

I admit defeat in the area of success, but if my Google searching has born fruit, then your school is <mod edit delete school name>, and you are not in Korea? Also, it has been in operation for 80 years or so according to online literature, so you are certainly not the founder, but bought into the school at some point.

I have built my school up, and I earned every success through long hours. Short of posting scans of the documents, I assure you that I follow all tax and labor laws including the most recent regarding monthly pension deposits. And despite your experience, aside from one institute across the street from me, so do all the others in this area.

I have actually advertised on Dave's for years, and there are actually some threads on here - positive ones - about my school. I have read, but never needed to start a thread until now.

[ttompatz]

[sbpolyhr]

I might do that...I don't have anything to hide, and you seem to be a person of status here on Dave's.

That being dealt with for now, I guess there is nothing to take from this than the fact that recruiters are really despised by some. There's nothing I can do about that other than gain support through doing what I say I'm going to do.

My plan is to only hire for those hagwons which I have personally verified as following the rules:

-Pension
-Proper taxes
-Housing satisfactory to the current teaching staff
-퇴직금 (the additional monthly pay erroneously thought of as a bonus)

I will also interview the staff myself and ask for teacher contact lists to give to the applicants the hagwon wants to hire after watching the interview videos. (I plan on interviewing 1:1 in the States as much as possible. Nothing personal against non-US folks, but that's where I'm from and have my contacts. Hopefully, later...).

If anyone has anything else that I should look out for...?

And as for applicants. Personally, I've had more bad experiences in hiring teachers than in working for bad academies - which I have also done. Nothing better than finding that the teacher you hired just decided not to come. or gets off the plane with the shakes because of whatever addiction he has (Happened twice!), or my favorite so far...is dependent on medication to maintain a stable personality. My list of mandatory questions to ask has grown over the years, but nothing replaces a face to face interview. Oye....my current staff does drug testing (me included!) about three times per year. They do it grudgingly, but they understand.

[Captain Corea]

IMO, honest communication is key. If you can provide that to both sides, you're leaps and bounds ahead of most.

Oh, and ttom is one of the most respected posters on this board. I'd be sure to pay attention if he posts. He's not trolling ya, man. He's being straight up.

[Gorf]

Tom...

God, how do I say this...

You're the best, man. You are one of the few people I would trust with my life in this country. You deserve all the success you get.

[Gorf]

And as for the OP, just get someone in-house to do the recruiting. Contracting it out will probably be more expensive and more risky. Hire in-country teachers (I assume you're doing this already) and make sure you're vetting them thoroughly for finding out their weaknesses.